Concussion
A concussion is a form of traumatic brain injury. Many people recover, but some experience longer-lasting headaches, fatigue or concentration difficulties.
Use our free brain injury compensation calculator to explore indicative compensation references for concussions, traumatic brain injuries and more serious brain damage. Select the reported injury type and a severity category supported by medical evidence, then add optional lost earnings, rehabilitation, care and other expenses. The calculator uses selected 2026 Judicial College Guidelines general damages references. It focuses on England and Wales and provides an illustration rather than a guaranteed compensation award.
Answer two injury questions, add optional financial losses and review a detailed illustrative calculation at Step 3.
Select the injury type recorded in the medical evidence. This does not set the compensation amount by itself.
Choose a category supported by a medical diagnosis and long-term prognosis. Severity cannot be reliably determined from symptoms alone.
Financial amounts are added for illustration only. Whether costs can be recovered depends on the evidence, the claim and applicable law.
This brain injury compensation calculator provides a structured way to explore selected general damages references used in England and Wales. It separates the reported type of injury, the medical severity category and optional financial losses. The result is an arithmetic illustration based on the selected information, not a substitute for a medical or legal assessment.
Choose the reported injury type, such as concussion, traumatic brain injury or other acquired brain injury. The second question displays the relevant injury severity references. Medical experts consider cognitive ability, movement, communication, behaviour, recovery and independence when assessing actual severity.
Enter lost earnings, medical and rehabilitation costs and care-related expenses if appropriate. This section is optional. Serious brain injuries may involve substantial future earnings, therapy and care expenses that need separate expert evaluation.
The final screen reveals the detailed breakdown of the selected general damages reference and optional financial losses. Visitors can copy the result or return to edit the selection. No figure is presented as a guaranteed compensation award.
The following reported 2026 Judicial College Guidelines, 18th edition, categories concern general damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity. They do not include care costs, rehabilitation or financial losses.
| Brain Injury Category | General Damages Reference |
|---|---|
| Minor Brain/Head Injury | £2,920–£16,870 |
| Less Severe Brain Damage | £20,240–£56,890 |
| Moderate Brain Damage (iii) | £56,890–£119,860 |
| Moderate Brain Damage (ii) | £119,860–£198,320 |
| Moderate Brain Damage (i) | £198,320–£289,420 |
| Moderately Severe Brain Damage | £289,420–£372,570 |
| Very Severe Brain Damage | £372,570–£533,720 |
Brain injuries can affect memory, concentration, movement, behaviour, communication and independence. The long-term impact varies significantly between individuals.
A concussion is a form of traumatic brain injury. Many people recover, but some experience longer-lasting headaches, fatigue or concentration difficulties.
A traumatic brain injury can follow a collision, fall or blow to the head. Effects range from temporary symptoms to permanent neurological disability.
Some people experience persistent difficulties with memory, concentration, sleep or headaches. Medical assessment is important for ongoing symptoms.
Moderate brain injuries may cause continuing cognitive or physical restrictions, reduced capacity for work and changes to daily functioning.
Serious brain injury may lead to substantial dependence, communication difficulties or long-term medical and care needs.
Acquired brain injury describes brain damage arising after birth, including traumatic and non-traumatic causes. Claim eligibility depends on the legal circumstances.
Where legal responsibility is established, compensation may include general damages for the injury and special damages for losses resulting from it.
General damages reflect the injury and its effects on quality of life. Cognitive, physical and behavioural limitations, prognosis and dependence on care may matter.
Financial losses may include earnings, medical treatment, care, rehabilitation, assistive equipment, accommodation changes and travel expenses where legally recoverable.
Severe injuries can involve lifelong support or earnings losses. Proper valuation may require medical, care and financial experts, rather than a basic online calculator.
Brain injury compensation is particularly dependent on the evidence about long-term function, rehabilitation, prognosis and care. Two injuries with the same initial diagnosis may have very different lifelong consequences.
Memory, attention, concentration, learning ability and decision-making difficulties may affect the severity assessment. Detailed neuropsychological evidence can be relevant.
Balance, coordination, movement, fatigue or other neurological difficulties may limit daily activities and independence. Medical reports may help assess whether these limitations are likely to improve.
Changes in mood, personality, communication or behaviour may significantly affect relationships and the ability to participate in daily life.
A brain injury can prevent a return to previous work or reduce the person's earning capacity. Future losses may require expert vocational and financial assessment.
Some people need ongoing physiotherapy, occupational therapy, psychological support or personal care. Severe cases may require extensive long-term planning.
Suppose medical evidence supports the less severe brain damage reference category, and the person has £5,000 in assumed legally recoverable financial losses.
| Calculation Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Less Severe Brain Damage | £20,240–£56,890 |
| Lost Earnings | £2,500 |
| Medical and Rehabilitation | £1,500 |
| Care and Other Costs | £1,000 |
| Total Financial Losses | £5,000 |
| Illustrative Combined Range | £25,240–£61,890 |
The example adds £5,000 to both ends of the selected guideline reference. It excludes any unassessed future care, rehabilitation or earning capacity losses. It is not a prediction of an actual case settlement.
Brain injury claims can involve detailed medical and functional evidence. The documentation required depends on the injury, the legal circumstances and the losses being claimed.
Emergency department records, neurological assessments, imaging and hospital notes may help establish the nature of an injury.
Cognitive assessments can provide information about memory, attention and other difficulties affecting everyday functioning.
Therapy records and assessments of support needs may help document rehabilitation requirements and care costs.
Incident evidence, witness statements, work records, invoices and receipts may be relevant to liability and financial losses.
A brain injury may form part of a claim following a road traffic accident, workplace incident, fall or alleged medical negligence. A diagnosis alone does not establish legal entitlement to compensation. Responsibility, causation and supporting evidence must be considered.
Drivers, passengers, cyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists may sustain traumatic brain injuries during collisions. Liability depends on the circumstances of the accident.
Falling objects, unsafe working environments and falls from height may result in head or brain injuries. Relevant safety obligations and evidence are important.
Slips, trips and falls may cause head injuries. Legal responsibility must be established rather than assumed from the accident.
Some brain injuries arise in medical contexts. The assessment may involve different questions of professional duty, breach and causation.
Many negligence-based personal injury claims in England and Wales normally have a three-year limitation period, with important exceptions. Capacity and childhood can affect applicable rules.
There is no standard amount. General damages depend on injury severity and long-term effects. Financial losses may be recoverable separately where supported by evidence and law.
The reported 2026 guideline reference for minor brain or head injury is £2,920–£16,870. An actual assessment depends on medical evidence and recovery.
Yes. The tool includes a concussion option and a minor injury reference. It cannot determine whether continuing symptoms qualify for a more serious category.
The reported 2026 reference for moderately severe brain damage is £289,420–£372,570, while very severe brain damage is £372,570–£533,720.
Future care can be relevant to an actual claim, but it normally requires detailed medical and financial assessment. This calculator does not independently project future care needs.
Yes. Step 2 allows documented lost income, medical costs, rehabilitation and care expenses to be entered. Actual recovery depends on evidence and law.
The initial £0.00 is a display placeholder, not a compensation valuation. The reference updates after a supported injury category is selected.
No. The calculator provides an illustrative reference. Brain injury severity, future needs, liability and actual claim value require specialist assessment.
Explore related compensation tools for head injuries, psychological effects and other personal injuries.
This tool uses selected brain and head injury general damages ranges reported from the Judicial College Guidelines, 18th edition (2026). The Guidelines are advisory rather than guaranteed payouts. The following official resources provide medical and legal background, not the individual compensation reference brackets.
Reference review: November 2026. This page provides general information and is not a substitute for medical assessment or independent legal advice.